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Synonyms

binary system

American  

noun

  1. a system involving only two elements, as 0 and 1 or yes and no.

  2. Mathematics. a system of counting or measurement whose units are powers of two.

  3. Astronomy. binary star.


Etymology

Origin of binary system

First recorded in 1825–35

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

This strange new world orbits around two stars at once, which dance around each other in what astronomers call a binary system.

From Space Scoop • May 6, 2025

It’s a binary system; a choice of extremes.

From Los Angeles Times • Dec. 17, 2024

"The Didymos binary system is located in a near-Earth environment while the Dinkinesh system is located much farther away from Earth in the main asteroid belt," she added.

From Science Daily • May 29, 2024

Nemo’s powerhouse number “The Code” is about struggling to find their place and discovering it “somewhere between the zeroes and ones” of a binary system.

From Seattle Times • May 8, 2024

The binary system lets us express any number, if we have enough bits, as a combination of 1's and 0's.

From The Online World by De Presno, Odd